CORONATION TREES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 186, 24 August 1937, Page 8

CORONATION TREES

Mayor Explains Why Weeping Elms Were Chosen TO-MORROW'S CEREMONY "Some difficulty was found- ia seenring a suitable type of tree to plant for the 'Coronation Row'," said tlie Mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, this morning wben referring to tlie ceremony to be observed at 10.30 o'clock to-morrow morning when tlie accession of Their Majesties will be commemorated in Hastings by tbe planting of a row of weeping elms in Hastings street. "It was originally mtended to plant a longer row tban is now proposed, but, as tlie greatest care liad -to be exercised in the clioice of trees, it was eventually decided to restrict. the planting to the eastern side of the block fronting the Municipal Chambers and the Municipal I'heatre." Inquiries were made through out New Zealand for suitable trees for tbe purpose, he added, and eventually the weeping elm was selected as being the most suited. The two main features required were that tlie tree should have no branches at least eight feet from the ground, as to olfer no obstruction to traffic, and that tlie trees should not grow to such a height as to be a menace to the power lines. Seven trees • are to be planted, each being donated by a different organisation or local body, and it is anticipated that each organisation .will have at least one representative present to-morrow morning for the planting ceremony. When tlie trees -ure fir'mly established it is intended that each shall bear a small plaqne, suitably inscribed. The organisations concerned are the Hastings Boroughi Council, the Hastings and District Progress League, the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, the Hastings branch. of the New Zealand R.S.A., the Hastings Women's Com- • munity Club, the Hastings Townswomen's Guild, and the Hastings branch of the Red Cross Society.